Ball State's Gavin Yates-Lyons, 18, dies days after shooting

Field Level Media
01 Jun 2026, 00:25 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Troy Babbitt-Imagn Images)

Gavin Yates-Lyons, 18, an early entrant on the Ball State football team, died as the result of gunshot wounds according to multiple outlets on Sunday.

Yates-Lyons, a native of Valdosta, Ga., was among three victims of a parking garage shooting in Tallahassee, Fla., on May 24. According to The Tallahassee Democrat, Yates-Lyons was caught in a crossfire in the garage, which is adjacent to off-campus apartments for Florida State University students.

He was taken to a local hospital, but died on Saturday.Yates-Lyons was a standout defensive back at Lowndes County (Ga.) High School. He graduated early in December 2025 and enrolled at Ball State for the 2026 spring semester.

'Gavin was an extraordinary person and it is difficult to express the grief we all feel,' Ball State football chief of staff Pete Roley said in a statement posted to X on Sunday morning.

'Our hearts are with his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. Thank you to the Ball State admin, staff and community for the support of our players and staff as we mourn,'

Yates-Lyons returned to his high school to attend the graduation ceremony one day before he was shot.

He was among three victims in the shooting. The other two, both adult males, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect or suspects are still at large and the investigation is open and on-going, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.

--Field Level Media

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